There are many opportunities to get involved to help better the City of Alexandria. Opportunities include serving on a Board, Commission or Committee, providing input on a new City project or speaking at a City Council meeting.

Historic Alexandria is a treasure trove of early structures, artifacts, and records that creates a unique way of life for its citizens and provides enjoyment for thousands of people who visit this special community every year. The City continues to add resources to its collection of local and nationally designated historic districts.

Agencies and programs that help maintain our safety and overall quality of life. These links contain information about the City of Alexandria's law enforcement agencies and public safety organizations, courts and judicial system.

The City provides a number of services to residents, including refuse collection and recycling. In addition, the City is responsible for maintaining streets, sidewalks, bridges, and other infrastructure in the City.

Did you know that ACPS is one of the most diverse school systems in the country? Our students come from more than 80 different countries, speak more than 60 languages, and represent a myriad of ethnic and cultural groups. The Alexandria Library is an educational, user-oriented service institution providing free public access to recorded knowledge and ideas.

The City provides public assistance as a safety net for individuals and families, including help with homelessness prevention, food, rent, utilities, medical coverage and prescriptions, job training and placement assistance, and much more.

If you are looking for small-town charm and big-city amenities, Alexandria is the place to find them. Alexandria has a fascinating history, and many of its historic buildings are still preserved today. The City's many historic homes, churches, businesses, and museums allow residents and visitors alike to experience the past that makes it the charming town it is today.

Alexandria is a desirable location to live, work and play. The City owns many of the premier historic sites in Alexandria and it is charged with the conservation, interpretation and promotion of these links to the past.

Alexandria is an active community that offers more than 900 acres of parks and dedicated public space, and a wide variety of neighborhood and recreation centers, pools, dog parks, farmers' markets, waterfront activities and more.

Ideally located just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., Alexandria is nationally recognized as one of the best places to live and do business on the east coast. Learn how we can help you start or relocate your business in Alexandria, and access resources for existing businesses and commuters.

Alexandria offers wide range of job opportunities and services. Work for City government or City Public Schools, find out about an internship opportunity or learn about workforce development and career training options.

Call.Click.Connect., the City’s online customer service system, allows customers to submit service requests, report problems, search for information, or find the right contact to call for various issues and topics of interest.

Alexandria offers wide range of job opportunities and services. Work for City government or City Public Schools, find out about an internship opportunity or learn about workforce development and career training options.

Alexandria is an active community that offers more than 900 acres of parks and dedicated public space, and a wide variety of neighborhood and recreation centers, pools, dog parks, farmers' markets, waterfront activities and more.

Agencies and programs that help maintain our safety and overall quality of life. These links contain information about the City of Alexandria's law enforcement agencies and public safety organizations, courts and judicial system.

The City provides a number of services to residents, including refuse collection and recycling. In addition, the City is responsible for maintaining streets, sidewalks, bridges, and other infrastructure in the City.

The City provides public assistance as a safety net for individuals and families, including help with homelessness prevention, food, rent, utilities, medical coverage and prescriptions, job training and placement assistance, and much more.

The Alexandria City Council is composed of a Mayor and six Council members who are elected at-large for three-year terms. The Mayor, who is chosen on a separate ballot, presides over meetings of the Council and serves as the ceremonial head of government.

The City of Alexandria has a strong commitment to citizen participation as evidenced by the number of citizen boards and commissions established by City Council. These bodies compose a formal system through which citizens can advise City Council on all major issues affecting the City.

There are many opportunities to get involved to help better the City of Alexandria. Opportunities include serving on a Board, Commission or Committee, providing input on a new City project or speaking at a City Council meeting.

The City government acts with integrity in an open process, and provides timely access to clear, trustworthy information, presented and employed by all parties from the beginning to the end of the process, including the reasoning that leads to and supports the policy conclusion.

Share

Top News

The City continues construction work as part of the Route 1 Transitway between Potomac Avenue and East Glebe Road. Beginning the week of February 18, vehicles will no longer be able to make left turns from southbound Route 1 at Potomac Avenue. The City is widening Route 1 north of Potomac Avenue in order to construct dedicated transit lanes and two transitway stations. As part of this project, and as reflected in the adopted framework of the Master Plan for Potomac Yard, the left turn lane, from southbound Route 1 to eastbound Potomac Avenue, will be removed from service and left turns will no longer be allowed at this intersection. Vehicles wishing to access Potomac Avenue from southbound Route 1 can turn left at Howell Avenue or any signalized intersection to the north. Access to Monroe Avenue from southbound Route 1 via the slip ramp and access to Potomac Avenue from northbound Route 1 will remain. Also as reflected in the adopted framework of the Master Plan for Potomac Yard, access to Hume Avenue from northbound Route 1 will also be eliminated from service. Access to southbound Route 1 at Hume Street remains unaffected. Vehicles wishing to utilize Hume Avenue from northbound Route 1 can turn left at either East Glebe or Swann Avenue.

C-SPAN to Produce Series of Alexandria History Vignettes

A crew from C-SPAN next week will be filming a series of history vignettes at locations around the City. The six-part series, which will focus on Alexandria and its historic sites, will air nationally on C-SPAN 2 and Book TV the weekend of March 15-16. The producers agreed to promote the series before and during the weekend with general visuals that portray the unusual depth, texture and beauty of Alexandria, to promote tourism to the City, while focusing the series itself on the following topics:

Alexandria in the Civil War -- filmed at Fort Ward, reference to Lyceum exhibit, post-war African American community "The Fort"

Alexandria Archaeology Museum -- filmed at the Museum, reference to nation's first Archaeology code, 13,000 years of Archaeological heritage

Freedmen's Cemetery -- filmed at onsite, reference to Freedom House/slavery/role of Alexandria as a refuge

Hundreds Turn Out to Help Craft Youth Master Plan

More than 250 people turned out at community forums this past week to help Alexandria create its first Child and Youth Master Plan. Adults and young people broke into workgroups to examine data about the City's youth, discuss the causes behind key issues (such as school attendance, substance abuse and participation in community activities), identify priorities and suggest solutions. The forums were held Saturday, February 9, at T.C. Williams High School and Monday, February 11, at the Charles Houston Center. Another public forum will be held February 23 at William Ramsay Elementary School.

City Marina Facility Underwater Inspection to Occur February 19 and 20

Collins Engineers, Inc. will be performing an underwater inspection of the City's marina structures on Tuesday, February 19 and Wednesday, February 20. The inspection is being conducted as part of a facility condition assessment of the City Marina for use in asset management and planning of future annual maintenance projects. The public can expect to see a dive crew in an around the water as the seawall, piles and pier structures are inspected. For crew safety, the divers' location will be identified using both commercial and recreational dive flags. For additional information, contact Jack Browand, Division Chief, with the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at 703.746.5504 or jack.browand@alexandriava.gov.

The public is invited to attend a community meeting to discuss the City's newly acquired 2.34 acre park property at 5325 Polk Ave. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 19 at 7 p.m., and will be held at the William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5650 Sanger Ave. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss future community use and potential improvements to the property. Based on community input, City staff will draft a plan for the future use and improvements to the new park. The draft plan will then be reviewed and discussed at a public hearing with the Park and Recreation Commission this spring.

Department of Planning & Zoning Begins Historic Resource Survey

From February through July 2013, local, trained volunteers managed by the City's planning staff will begin a detailed architectural survey of the City's Old and Historic Alexandria District. These volunteers will photograph the exteriors of buildings, structures and sites from the public right-of-ways and collect architectural and historical data. This information will help state and federal planners make informed decisions on historic preservation tax credit applications and to help staff and the public identify resources significant to the City of Alexandria's history. This project is fully funded by grants from a combination of sources, including National Park Service, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, the Historic Alexandria Foundation and the Environmental Systems Research Institute. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/preservation.

Beads, boas, masks, and costumes return as the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria hosts the 3rd annual Mardi Growl Gala. The New Orleans-style celebration on March 8 is the League's largest fundraising event of the year, supporting the homeless animals at the City's Vola Lawson Animal Shelter. This year's gala, also known as MG3, will blend exciting new elements with classic Mardi Growl favorites. The event is open to the public and tickets will be sold online exclusively on the Animal Welfare League's website. The cost is $85 for a single ticket and $150 for a pair. All proceeds benefit the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. The last two galas were sold-out events—so get your tickets now! The event features a live "N'awlin's" jazz band, silent auction, raffle, and "howlicane" beverages. Visit www.AlexandriaAnimals.org/MardiGrowl for more information.

DCHS Begins "e-Prescribing" at Mental Health Center

DCHS has begun electronic prescribing in the medication clinic at the Mental Health Center. Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) is a key step in achieving eligibility for Medicaid and Medicare incentive programs and for keeping an electronic health record. More importantly, e-prescribing improves patient safety, quality of care and efficiency of operations in the clinic. More than 20 DCHS staff (psychiatrists, psychiatric nursing staff, pharmacy technicians and quality assurance staff) attended an all-day training on the e-prescribing software. Additionally, e-prescribing will be important when the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act brings sweeping changes in relationships between service providers and insurance companies, and between DCHS as a service provider and our consumers.